Wire-fence machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. P. HIATT.

R N I H 0 A M B G N E P E R I W Patented July 10,1894.

INVENTOH ,4 TTORNE).

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. P. HIATT. WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

@ Patented July 10, 1894.

IMII

/Al Ir m 9 1 WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

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JOSEPH P. I-IIATT, OF'RICHMOND, INDIANA.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 522,899, dated July 10, 1894.

Application filed March 8, 1894'- Serial No. 502,822- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. HIATT, of Richmond, in the county of Wayne andState of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Machines; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the lettersof reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in fence weaving machines. a

The object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for constructing or weaving fences composed of wire netting, exceedingly simple and durable in construction and composed of a minimum number of parts and which can be easily and quickly operated without requiring the services of a skilled mechanic.

The invention consists in-certain novel features of construction and in combinationsand arrangements of parts more fully and particularly described and pointed out hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the rear face of the machine showing the shifting frames swung to the left with the right hand fingersarranged on opposite sides of the Weft wires with the parts in the position they assume just after the twist has been formed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the parts in the same positions. Fig. 3 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional View, the frames being shown shifted to the right, with the left hand fingers between the pairs of wires after the twist has been made by the parts arranged as in Figs. 1 and 2, and the machine moved forward. Fig. 4 is across sectional view on the line 4.-4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective showing the lower carrier of the shifting frames, also showing portions of said frames and adjacent parts. Fig. 6 is a detail verticalsection enlarged taken on the lines 6-6, Fig. 7, showing the parts in the same positions as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a detail rear elevation showing the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 6, wherein the left hand fingers have just been shifted to the right and passed between the wires twisted between the right-hand fingers, this figure showing the parts in the position before the shifting frameshave been thrown in opposite vertical directions to separate the wires and carry to adjacenttwisters. Fig.8 is a detail vertical section, enlarged, taken on the lines 8--8, Fig. 9, showing the parts after the frames have been shifted vertically in opposite directions, so that the left-hand fingers separate the wires and carry them through the slots in the frame into the adjacent twisters. Fig; 9 is a detail rear elevation showing the parts in the position of Fig. 8.

In the drawings the reference letter a indicates a vertical frame usually having a roller 1), at the lower end thereof to run on the ground, and a forwardly extending brace c, fromthe upper portion thereof provided with a roller to travel on the ground and assisting infsupporting the device and removing the strain from the wires. Thisframe preferably consists of two upright longitudinal parallel plates secured together a suitable distance apart.

d, are the wire twisters journaled transversely in said plates in aligned round apertures extending through the plates. Each twister preferably consists of a round block or cylinder having two longitudinal wire re ceiving grooves or notches e 6, extending the length thereof on diametrically opposite sides of each twistsr. Each twister at or about its center is also provided with the exterior gear Wheel f, fitted between the plates of the frame.

All of the twisters are simultaneously revolved by means of the rack bar g, slidably confined between the plates and meshing with the gears of "all the twisters. On its rear side this rack bar is provided with the gearing h, with which the pinion '5, meshes. This pinion is rigid on the horizontal drive shaft j extending laterally to one side of the machine and mounted in a suitable bracket from the upright frame. The outer end of this shaft can be provided with a suitable handle it,

whereby the shaft can be rotated in opposite directions to raise and lower the rack bar and thereby revolve the twisters in opposite directions.

A suitable number of horizontal twisters are employed in avertical series, and the two plates composing the upright frame are provided with vertical slots 1, between the openings containing the twisters so that the wire receiving notches in the twisters can register with said slots and the wires can be passed throughthe slots between adjacent twisters for the purpose hereinafter described.

The present machine is designed to weave a fence composed of wire netting on top and bottom selvage wires. The top and bottom twisters of the series of twisters d have each a central concentric bore for the passage of the selvage wire. This wire netting is formed from a series of parallel wires stretched be tween and parallel with the selvage wires so that a sin'gle'wire is located between each twister and the adjacent twisters.

Suitable means are provided to shift the wires between the twisters in forming the meshes of the wire netting. These means preferably consist of two frames 91, 0, arranged at. the rear side of the machine. These frames are laterally shiftable together and vertically movable in opposite directions and the frames are arranged longitudinally of the main frame and opposite the rear ends of the twisters therein. Each shifting frame consists of the two parallel verticalbars arranged on opposite sides of the vertical plane in which the twisters are located and extending above and below the series of twisters and connected at their ends by cross bars. The two frames are arranged close together so that their side bars slide one on the other.

The two frames are held in position by the upper and horizontally arranged carriers 19, p, having the transverse openings in which the sides of the frame are confined to slide vertically. These carriers slide horizontally to shift the frames together. The main upright frame can be provided with ways for the carriers, and the carriers can have elongated slots q, through which headed pins 1", rigid with the frame extend. These two carriers can be rigidly secured by means of a vertical rod 8.

Suitable means are provided for shifting the frames laterally such as a vertically rock- 7 ing hand lever 25, fulcrumed to a lateral extension from the upright frame and provided with a lateral end pivotally connected with the lower carrier by a link to. A bell crank lever a is mounted on a rigid extension from the upper end of the frame and one arm of said lever is connected to the said lever 25, on the opposite side of the fulcrum from link 11., and the other arm of said bell crank lever is connected by the link to with the upper carrier. It will thus be observed that when the hand lever is swungup. the two carriers and theirframes will be swung to the left and when the said lever is swung down the two shifte frames will be swung to the right.

Any suitable means can be provided to move. the two frames vertically in opposite 1 twister. 1 half the length of a completed mesh, and 1n fusing the present device wherein twelve preferably of the same dimensions and are.

directions, such as a vertically swinging hand lever 19' extending forwardly and between its ends fulcrumed on the bar 8, and pivotally connected from points on opposite sides of its fulcrum with the two frames by the links 0' (1' so that when said. hand lever 19' is swung the two frames will be moved in opposite directions.

The outer frame a, is provided with the fingers 6' extending inwardly from its side bars. The inner frame is also provided with corre= sponding series of fingers f. The distance between the fingers is usually the same as the distance between two twisters, and each finger does not extend beyond aline passing through the longitudinal center of the two frames.

The fingers on opposite sides of each frame are arranged approximately opposite each other so that their straight sides will be approximately in the same plane. The fingers on the same side of a frame face 1n the same direction while those on the opposite side of the same frame face in the opposite directlon. The fingers in adjacent sides of the two frames also face in opposite directions.

At or about the central portion of the outer frame n, the two gages h h project outwardly from opposite sides thereof and have inturned ends. These gages are formed to gage the size of the mesh and are so arranged that the one in action always comes opposite an 1dle Each gage is equal in length to one twisters are employed eleven weft wires should be strung an equal distance apart and between the two selvage wires. The machine is placed on these wires with thetwo selvage wires passing through the top and the bottom twisters and the weft wires passing between the twelve twisters. The machine is now moved up to the end post until one of the gages h engages the post or other support at which the fence is to begin, the parts being arranged in the position shown in Fig. l with the shifting frames thrown to the left and the weft wires in opposite sides of every alternate twister. Each pair of weft wires pass between the flat face of a pair of fingers on the right hand side of the shifting frames. The fingers on the opposite side of the frame are arranged one over the other and opposite the space between the opposite separated fingers and opposite the center of each twister containing wires. The twisters are now operated to twist the weft wires together forming in this instance a vertical series of six twists as shown. The twist at one end being around one of the selvage wires. The machine is now moved forward a short distance and the hand lever controlling the side shift of the frames is thrown doyvn thereby throwing The hand lever controlling the separating movements of the frame is then thrown up thereby throwing the two frames in opposite directions approximately the distance between the centers of the two twisters, thereby spreading the wires and moving the wires of each pair in opposite directions through the slots in the upright frame into the wire receiving notches of the adjacent twisters which were idle in the previous twisting operation. In this position the pairs of wires are located between the straight adjoining edges of the left hand fingers and the right hand fingers are arranged in pairs one on the other and opposite the left hand separated fingers in the reverse position from that previously described. The machine is now moved back until the left hand gage rests in the corner of a mesh made in the previous operation and in a plane a distance equal to the distance between two twisters above or below the mesh previously engaged by the right hand gage, the gage being properly spaced. The

twisters are then operated to twist the wires in the opposite direction to the twist previously made. The machine is then moved forward a suitable distance and the frames shifted to t the right to throw the weft wires onto the opposite sides of the pairs of overlapping fingers which are then separated vertically to spread the wires into the adjacent twisters as before described.

This machine is particularly adapted for weavinganetting fence having the vertical stay rods connected at their ends to the selvage Wires and Woven into the netting, the weft being twisted in one direction on one side of each rod and then twisted in the opposite direction on the other side of each rod. A stay rod 8, is seen in such position in Fig. 2. By this arrangement the weft wires do not become unduly twisted in front of the machine and a fence of great strength is produced and one that is very economical and durable in construction and very easily and quickly constructed with my machine. It should also be noted that this machine does nothave to carry spools or coils of weft wires and that it is light and simple in construction and easily handled and composed of a minimum number of parts for the purpose intended.

It is evident that various changes might be made in the forms, constructions, and arrangements of parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, hence I do not wish to limit myself.

to the exact construction herein set forth.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. The portable fence weaving machine havin g adjacent twisters, provided with the oppowires between the twisters, for the purpose set forth.

2. A fence weaving machine having aseries of twisters, a frame containing the twisters and provided with slots between the twisters through which the line wires pass, and whereby they can be spread and moved between the twisters, and a series of shifters arranged behind the twisters and independent thereof to directly engage the line wires and shift the wires from one set of twisters to another set, as described.

3. In a fence weaving machine, the combination of an upright frame, twisters therein, and the two laterally and vertically movable shifting frames at the rear side of said frame independent of the twisters and having fingers todirectly engage and separate and shift the wires, substantially as described.

4. A fence weaving machinehaving the series of wire spreading fingers arranged to directly engage and spread the wires and movable laterally in the same direction and vertically in opposite directions, and vertically and laterally movable carriers for said fingers provided with operating means, substantially as described.

5. A fence weaving machine having the laterally and vertically movable carriers provided with wire spreading fingers arranged to directly engage and spread the wires, and means, substantially as described, for moving said carriers laterally in the same direction and vertically in opposite directions.

6. A fence weaving machine having the movable wire shifting frames, independent of the twisters, each frame havinga rearwardly and inwardly extending mesh gage as set forth.

7. A fence weaving machine having the two parallel shifting frames, each provided with the fingers extending inwardly from opposite sides, substantially as described, laterally movable carriers for said frames in which they are vertically movable in opposite directions, and levers for moving said frames in opposite directions, and for moving the carriers laterally.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OSEPI-I P. I-IIATT. Witnesses:

HUBERT E. PEoK, C. M. WERLE. 

